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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 2, 2005)
W B lack H istory M onth ä Page AIO s p e c ia l o n e ra a e , Februaiy 2, 2005 Black Baptists Pledge New Era of Cooperation disobedience and mass protest were a key factor in that split. The groups say little of consequence now divides them, other than the indepen dent denominational structures each has created that would make full reunification difficult at this time. They are now positioning themselves collectively as an antidote, not just for blacks but for all Americans, to what they call the narrow moral focus of President Bush and his religious supporters. Like white evangelicals, black Baptists generally oppose abortion and consider gay sex immoral. In the presidential race, Republicans made common cause with some black leaders over blocking gay mar riage, hoping the issue would chip away at the overwhelming black support for Demo crats. The Rev. Jesse Jackson, during a key note speech, asked the audience if any of their churches had fielded requests to per form same-sex weddings. When there was no visible response among the thousands packed into a cavernous hotel ballroom, he wheeled around the podium and shouted, “Then how did that get in the middle of our agenda?” People stood and cheered. See total numbers as power to make a positive impact (AP)— Four black Baptist groups whose churches were a training ground for promi nent civil rights leaders, but split partly over how that tight should be waged, said Friday they were embarking on a new era of coop eration meant to put the concerns of their community atop the national agenda. The National Baptist Convention USA, the Progressive National Baptist Conven tion, the National Baptist Convention of America and the National Missionary Bap tist Convention of America hope to reclaim their historic role as leaders for broad social change. Among their top issues will be Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks to four black Baptist groups whose churches were a education, health care, jobs and foreign training ground for prominent civil rights leaders, but split apart decades ago partly over how that fight should be waged. (AP photo) policy. "We believe, and the numbers show it, denom inations’ joint weeklong m eeting - pened in 1988. But the most notorious break was in that we have the power in terms o f black their first in at least 90 years. Together, the 1961, when a fight over the presidency of registered voters across the country to convention presidents said they repre the National Baptist Convention USA led make an impact,” said the Rev. Stephen J. sent about 15 million Baptists nationwide. the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and his Thurston of Chicago, president of the The groups’ initial split occurred in 1915, National Baptist Convention of America. over control o f a publishing house. A supporters to form the Progressive Bap tists. Opposition to King’s strategy of civil His comments came at the end of the similar schism over governance issues hap- Church Hosts Gumbo Dinner T he Im m a c u la te H eart Church will host its 21 st An nual Creole G um bo Dinner on Saturday, Feb. 5 from noon to 7 p.m. The dinners will include rice, salad, bread, dessert and punch. Take-out is available. An adult Creole Gum bo plate is $13, an adult Jumbalaya plate is $10, and children un der 12 are $6. Im m aculate H eart Church is located at 2926 N. W ill iams Avenue and dinner will be served in the Parish Hall. T ickets are available at the door o r by calling 503-287- 3724. February 2005 o Thurgood Marshall 1908-1993 .....' • .f • <* For over 40 years, Thurgood Marshall fought for equal opportunities. The grandson of a slave, Marshall graduated from Howard University Law School in 1933. He joined the legal staff of the NAACP in 1936. Over the course of his career as a lawyer, he argued N more than 30 cases before the U S. Supreme Court. His argument in Brown vs. Board of Education (1954) against the "separate but f i f e equal" doctrine resulted in a landmark decision that outlawed segregation in public schools. In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court, making him the first African American to serve B in this position. There, Marshall consistently ■ challenged discrimination and supported free speech and individual rights. ite a s s a r s ä *» ' -‘"‘''"J For his pioneering legal efforts in opening opportunities for Americans of every race, color, gender, and creed, we honor him. > u 0 W Library of Congress, Prints and l ■ ) ¡I I
